Hopeful beginnings: Bradley's new identity spaces lead the way to change
Bradley University's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department opened up two new identity spaces on campus to
History of Identity Spaces
A home away from home, college students all across America find community on their college campuses. However, with a growing society and politics going into play in daily life, students feel unsafe and have a lack of belonging. To solve this problem, universities have encouraged the usage of safe spaces built to help students express their identities.
Since the late 60s and 70s, culture centers have been around on a majority of college campuses. Black students specifically pushed for this initiative, urging universities to protect them from racism and anything that would further dehumanize them.
Colleges such as Illinois State University, Dominican University of California, Emory, North Carolina, and others have multicultural, safe centers installed on their campus. The New York Times has covered many stories on how safe spaces have affected campus culture. Many have criticized spaces such as these to be forms of coddling; preventing students from preparing themselves for society.
For example, in 2022 Arizona State University faced controversy after an incident occurred in the university’s multicultural center. This sparked a repeated conversation on whether multicultural centers, safe spaces, and anything relevant to keeping minority groups safe.
Patton Davis a professor from Ohio State University expressed how fundamental spaces and centers for minority students are to college campuses. Not only are they places for students to hang out, but most centers provide resources and academic support.
Bradley University has now made its changes with the addition of two new identity spaces in the Michael Student Center. In the spring of 2024, the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) opened up the Women and LGBTQ+ Kaleidoscope Center, a safe space for students to find resources and a place of comfort.
Jolie Rodriguez from 25News reported, that Bradley wanted to make sure all students felt safe and places that provided resources on campus. The spaces had been in the works for just over a year and are a part of Bradley’s DEI initiative.
New changes at Bradley
In 2022, President Stephen Standifird wanted to make Bradley more progressive, highlighting the importance of diversity and acceptance on campus. Dr. Anderson was then hired and currently serves as the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Under Dr. Anderson, his department has not only created identity spaces but has expanded more projects into other offices such as Title IX, Campus Culture and Climate, and more.
Although Dr. Anderson has brought positive change to Bradley, he expressed how important it is to credit the students who steer these projects.
The idea for the identity spaces stemmed from an interview with students. DEI was interviewing students who wanted to become intercultural ambassadors. Lilliana Castro, a current ambassador for the DEI department was one of the few students who proposed creating identity spaces.
To learn more about the Castro’s experience and the impact it has left on students, listen here:
Castro shared how at her local high school safe spaces for queer students were available. She was extremely active with the queer community at her school and when she visited Bradley, she was shocked that there were no spaces or centers available.
When asked to help build the Kaleidoscope Center, she knew this was her chance to make a positive change.
“I was really excited to work on the project because it would give more visibility to the queer community on campus; visibility that wasn’t there” shared Castro. “Not only that but to help a lot of students. I think even a little bit goes a long way so if I was able to help one student that would be awesome.”
The DEI department will be expanding its resources and hopes to create more spaces such as Kaleidoscope and the Women’s Center.
Resources
Both centers are packed with resources. In the Women’s Center, the office provides pamphlets about sexual assault, fertility, hygiene, and more. In the Kaleidoscope Center, pamphlets to educate others about sexual orientation, gender identity, STD testing, binding kits, and pins with pronouns can be found in the space.
Both centers have relationships with local Peoria foundations that can provide further extensive resources. Some of these organizations include Peoria Central Friends, the Center for Prevention Abuse, and the Women’s Care Center for Peoria.
Junior political science and english major Rodrigo Trujillo shared how as a queer student and a regular volunteer, they are extremely grateful for what the safe spaces have to offer. “I can’t help but appreciate it. These local partners allowed me to volunteer my time at Central Illinois Friends where I could help other queer people.” Trujillo continued to express how the installment of the spaces has increased the visibility of queer and female students on campus.
Students are also able to reserve the spaces for any external use. Junior political science major Lauren Henson reserved the Women’s Center for her campaign during their Student Body Officer elections.
“I am very happy that we have safe spaces for our students on campus. They are very welcoming and I love that there are things you can take with you” Henson shared.
As a female, she expressed how important a place like the Women’s Center is to Bradley’s campus. Like a majority of female college students in the nation, she is thankful to have the Women’s Center, especially in situations where she may feel unsafe.
Bradley has made its mark on the map by making spaces for students to feel empowered. Just like Castro, Trujillo, and Henson, students on Bradley’s campus feel thankful and seen with these new additions. The campus is excited to see what other things the DEI department will bring and the events that will take place in the coming years.